I got a copy of it real cheap today, so thought I'd give it a try. What server do you guys mainly play on?

Yeah, I don't even know if you can register that code right now, everything is on lockdown till ARR launch. The servers are up until Dec 31st, but assuming you can even register and login, none of your progress will be saved. The final save state was early this month. In answer to your question, I was on Hyperion, and I'm on Bahamut on the alpha. If a bunch of us get into the beta, we should coordinate so group content won't require the dreaded dungeon finder.

Huh, ok. Interesting. So I picked up a retail copy. Any idea if I will ever actually be able to use it?

My bad if that sounded a tad overly direct, but yeah, I think you may be somewhat hosed dude. That being said, I SERIOUSLY doubt you'vre got a useless game. Probably just need to wait til XIV 2.0 comes out and maybe buy an expansion. I'd ask Tenchi or Parn for specifics, but this is Squeenix we're talking about...they'd be straight suicidal to do something like that.

Huh, ok. Interesting. So I picked up a retail copy. Any idea if I will ever actually be able to use it?

My bad if that sounded a tad overly direct, but yeah, I think you may be somewhat hosed dude. That being said, I SERIOUSLY doubt you'vre got a useless game. Probably just need to wait til XIV 2.0 comes out and maybe buy an expansion. I'd ask Tenchi or Parn for specifics, but this is Squeenix we're talking about...they'd be straight suicidal to do something like that.

All good. I sent an email to Squeenix support a few hours ago, so hopefully they'll let me know what the story is. At the very least, it only cost me about $8, so it's not the end of the world.

To my knowledge, they were honoring the registration codes for version 1.0. Basically, if you paid for and registered 1.0 you got an upgrade to the 2.0 client for free. Otherwise you'll have to buy the new game retail or digital. Hopefully they will have a grace period for those original registration codes.

EDIT - It looks like they will still be honoring old codes after the launch of ARR. This article should answer most of your questions.

To my knowledge, they were honoring the registration codes for version 1.0. Basically, if you paid for and registered 1.0 you got an upgrade to the 2.0 client for free. Otherwise you'll have to buy the new game retail or digital. Hopefully they will have a grace period for those original registration codes.

EDIT - It looks like they will still be honoring old codes after the launch of ARR. This article should answer most of your questions.

EDIT- Two major problems with the video. Firstly, they're playing with the mouse again instead of just using the hotkeys, which makes the tempo look plodding. Secondly, all WS can be used while moving. Only spells require you to stand still, so while the group play looks ok, it's unnecessarily static.

Sweet, saves me from having to register. Also, interestingly enough, it says phase 4 characters transfer to retail. I guess they're treating the open beta phase as more or less free advertising/head start.

Hunh? I'm not understanding your statement; PS3 testing begins in Phase 3. They're even giving priority to folks who purchased FF13. It's all in the development roadmap link at the bottom of that page.

Ok, i couldn't check the link on my phone, as it just downloaded a pdf that I didn't feel like dealing with on my phone. But it still stands to reason that PS3 users are left in the dust. We didn't get any access to the first version, no beta access til their phase 3, and no access to the official release til a much later date. Again, I ask, what was the point of video game consoles, outside of salvaging video games?

Ok, i couldn't check the link on my phone, as it just downloaded a pdf that I didn't feel like dealing with on my phone. But it still stands to reason that PS3 users are left in the dust. We didn't get any access to the first version, no beta access til their phase 3, and no access to the official release til a much later date. Again, I ask, what was the point of video game consoles, outside of salvaging video games?

With the bulk of my games lately being bought on Steam for a fraction of the console cost (and controller compatible to boot), I've been asking myself the same question. Though I think PS3 owners missing out on ver. 1.0 was probably in the best interest for the greater good. I think they'd have a much harder time selling the game to another jaded audience after the PC launch debacle. I will say that at least by the time PS3 users will get into the beta, the controller setup will be in a much finalized state (there wont be any controller support till phase 2) and there will be MUCH more to see and do. At least when the game finally relaunches it "should" be a be a multi-platform simultaneous release like was originally planned 2 years ago.

I will say though, looking at the start time and estimated phase time, we probably won't see the official launch till June at the earliest. That's alot longer than I thought it would take. Hopefully there's enough new (not refurbished) content to warrant that wait. I'm really curious to see how the region specific servers play out in terms of latency, because I had very little issue in ver. 1.0 (till Ifrit) and just the rare random DC in the alpha. While I've always dreamed of an NA server, the more I think about it, it just wouldn't feel right to not have a multilingual server. After having dealt with the frustrations of the auto translator for years, you'd think it'd be an easy choice, but there's something about playing with players from all over the world that made my experience in XI more memorable than other MMOs I've played.